The Sewerage and Water Board wants to raise $582.7 million. The plan would raise rates by 10 percent every year for eight years from 2013 to 2020. That would more than double customers' bills.

The Budget Committee and even the members who are not on that committee heard presentations from a number of groups and citizens this afternoon all in an effort to make a more informed decision for Thursday's vote.

Representatives from a citizen task force, the Army Corps of Engineers, the business community as well the hotel industry made presentations before the council. All said they're in favor of moving forward and approving this rate increase.

During the meeting, council members asked very specific questions of the Sewerage and Water Board to be sure the money will be used in the right way.

City Council President Stacy Head pushed to delay the vote on this rate hike, saying this decision is too big to rush to a vote. She came to the meeting with several pages of questions she wanted answered before Thursday.

The council moves to a vote on this rate proposal during its regular session in council chambers Thursday at 10 a.m.

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